Warning: This blog is just some random thought process I had while sitting in my car.
School. In the last week I’ve seen a minimal amount of my high school classes. I can’t say I’m too disappointed in the fact, mainly because stress levels have depleted. I miss the atmosphere. Somehow, I actually enjoy that place. A small private school that I disagree with on several aspects is missed by me, a somewhat rebellious teenage drummer. Most people when they see me around think, “who’s that long haired punk wearing a white tee, sweat pants, and a bandana around his head? Why does he wear those rings and cross necklace. Is he begging for attention?”
Just the opposite actually! I don’t want attention like most people assume I do. I dress the way I do because of two major reasons: comfort (which is a must) and religious reasons. Most people call the second one false or even just an excuse. These are my reasons.
Comfort. I’m a teenager. I need to feel good, and if sweat pants and a light shirt make me feel better, I’m going to wear it no matter what. I mean, why would I try to look “good” according to the world’s standards and be uncomfortable? I can’t afford the nice expensive clothes so many people wear, so I make do with what I can buy.
Religion. Something tells me most people wouldn’t believe this when they read this, but this is the truth. I’m not trying to be prideful in saying that because that destroys my entire reasoning about this subject. Humility is the entire point of it. Let me explain a little bit. My casual clothing is a constant choice. As many know, the last year I’ve changed from constantly wearing button up shirts into wearing tees and sweats rather than khaki shorts for the most part. I still wear them when it’s hot, but whatever. I wear these clothes because it, in my head, means I’m not trying to be noticed. Yes I know, I love to laugh and that gets me plenty of attention wherever I go. But I don’t want to seem like I’m requiring it. My rings-One is a class ring, which is a reminder for respect. There’s a WWJD inscription underneath the rock, and I see it every time I put it on. The wedding band around my finger is a symbol of celibacy. It shows me that I will eventually marry someone whom I respect more than anyone on the face of the earth, and I want to respect her by not going around sleeping with random girls that I find or have feelings for. The cross necklace was a gift from my dad. It’s a symbol I have that when I put it on in the morning I remember to be a servant of Christ today. My long hair has meaning whether (especially my parents) believe it or not. I have to take a good five minutes in the morning drying my hair. To me it expresses my need of patience with myself and with others. It gives me the feeling of “I don’t have to rush everything. Not everything can be rushed.” I know most think that’s ridiculous, but I’m willing to post it on the internet. It’s not ridiculous to me. The last thing I really have a reason for wearing is the bandana. When I look at myself in the mirror in the morning I see a creation that, even though I may not like, God made and loves to (literally) death. I wear the bandana around my head because it’s my own crown. I wear it because Christ wore the crown of thorns. I’m not a religious nutjob so I don’t own my own thorny cross, but I do wear this bandana for the reason of being Christlike. I’m not a strong believer at this stage of my life and I do need constant reminders. These few constant daily reminders help initiate my day to a good start. I’m not saying I’m righteous for jewelry and a headband, but I’m professing to the world that I want to do a better job.
“6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
1 Tim 4:6-8 (NIV)
These are my reasons and this is my faith. Not asking you to understand, but to respect.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Kanye, Swift, Leno, and Mommy
In the recent news, youtubers, bloggers, fanatics and such have gone absolutely insane with this fiasco with Taylor Swift and Kanye West at the MTV VMA awards. If you don’t know what happened, watch this informational video first.
Anyways, that’s what happened. Kanye thought Beyonce deserved the award, and got up on stage and told the entire world. Good job bud, now everybody hates you. But besides ruining his career, he also showed up on Jay Leno the next night showing great bravery though some fans and even non fans would disagree. He got onto the Jay Leno stage and the first thought I had was, “he’s going to either avoid all questions about last night, or he’s going to try and justify it. Suprising to me, he accepted that what he did was wrong. Jay Leno asked the simple question: “What would your mom think?”
Watch
You could see the anguish he felt at that very second. He was blindsided by the question and his face looked like his heart had been ripped from his chest. For the first time, I saw more than pride in his emotions. I saw misery and fear. And I feel bad for ever being so consistently mad at him.
“What would your mother think?” I love my mommmy (yes, mommy) so much. I know every basic moral standpoint according to her. She trained me for kindergarten. She trained me for Jr High. She trained me for college classes. She trained me for love. She trained me for respect toward the women in my life. I owe my life to my mom. “What would your mother think?” Do you think that if we all thought that way things would be different? In reality, if I was messing up and someone said “What would Jesus do?” I’d say, “I don’t know… He’s never been in this situation before…” or something along those lines. But if someone came up to me and said, “what would your mother think?” I’d freak out.
Jesus. He’s the one who created my mom. He’s the one who planned out my existence. Mom didn’t even do that. He did. The question that I should be asking isn’t, “what would mom think?”… Or is it? Does my mom, or my dad for that matter, mean more to me than the one who brought the two of them together? Kanye West doesn’t have a Savior. I do. Shouldn’t I be basing my life on Him rather than my mom?
Final thoughts:
Let mom influence me. She’s wise and knows what she’s doing. But Jesus knows what I’m doing. He trumps any mom.
Anyways, that’s what happened. Kanye thought Beyonce deserved the award, and got up on stage and told the entire world. Good job bud, now everybody hates you. But besides ruining his career, he also showed up on Jay Leno the next night showing great bravery though some fans and even non fans would disagree. He got onto the Jay Leno stage and the first thought I had was, “he’s going to either avoid all questions about last night, or he’s going to try and justify it. Suprising to me, he accepted that what he did was wrong. Jay Leno asked the simple question: “What would your mom think?”
Watch
You could see the anguish he felt at that very second. He was blindsided by the question and his face looked like his heart had been ripped from his chest. For the first time, I saw more than pride in his emotions. I saw misery and fear. And I feel bad for ever being so consistently mad at him.
“What would your mother think?” I love my mommmy (yes, mommy) so much. I know every basic moral standpoint according to her. She trained me for kindergarten. She trained me for Jr High. She trained me for college classes. She trained me for love. She trained me for respect toward the women in my life. I owe my life to my mom. “What would your mother think?” Do you think that if we all thought that way things would be different? In reality, if I was messing up and someone said “What would Jesus do?” I’d say, “I don’t know… He’s never been in this situation before…” or something along those lines. But if someone came up to me and said, “what would your mother think?” I’d freak out.
Jesus. He’s the one who created my mom. He’s the one who planned out my existence. Mom didn’t even do that. He did. The question that I should be asking isn’t, “what would mom think?”… Or is it? Does my mom, or my dad for that matter, mean more to me than the one who brought the two of them together? Kanye West doesn’t have a Savior. I do. Shouldn’t I be basing my life on Him rather than my mom?
Final thoughts:
Let mom influence me. She’s wise and knows what she’s doing. But Jesus knows what I’m doing. He trumps any mom.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
iPrism iMadness
While sitting in a COS class today, the topic came up of filtering internet. iPrism and such. Personally, while on campus I have never run into the fabled “iPrism” block, and this got me to begin thinking what some students may be looking for that could be blocked. At my private school for the last year we used a website blocker. It’s extremely strict on what is shown and what is allowed, and it’s a ridiculous difference. The blocker basically removes any type of media or something slightly risqué, and was somewhat as an insult to my integrity when the system was introduced. Since having the blocker, I have found every possible chance to get around it to break the rules having somewhat of a rebellious attitude. If there wasn’t a block, would I still find the time to get onto these sites?
Before the filter was introduced at my school, I never found myself surfing the web, logging into facebook, or especially watching youtube videos just for fun. I have researched on youtube in the past (yes, it’s possible) and don’t have that availability to me anymore. I’m not saying the filter is inappropriate for there could always be situations where there is a total lack of discipline with internet, but there needs to be more student trust in the system.
As of the college classes I attend, I have begun to realize the temptation that I have faced in the past personally dealing with certain internet issues and when a quiz asked a question if the filter should stay on or not, I answered “yes, definitely.” The professor of the class brought up the subject a minute later in class, and there were several people that raised their hands immediately following the question. One of these students said that they wanted to be treated like an adult and can’t do that if there’s a strict filter on the web. Another student mentioned the male (and possibly female) struggle with pornography in teens. The student was a PA in his door and has already had conversations dealing with this topic, and can speak from experience. Both had legitimate points but this is the way I see it:
I have not had a filter on my personal internet since about eighth grade, and have struggled since somewhat with what I should be avoiding as a Christian. Since my acceptance of the faith as a freshman in high school the temptation has wondrously been almost absent from my mind. I am currently typing this blog on a Dell Studio 15 model laptop (there’s my advertisement of the day) which is connected to a wireless internet router which is at a max ten feet from my room. I have constant unfiltered internet access and have the trust of my parents to not go wandering the world wide porn industry. I have appreciated the unfiltered aspect of the unfiltered respect I have earned from my parents based on previous experiences, but I can vouch for the filter that the university has adopted. There is temptation for young men to seek arousal through internet fantasies and such examples of adult humor. (Not being a young female, I can’t really say anything about the subject from their viewpoint…) The iPrism filter has so far helped a couple young men that I know here on campus, one somewhat close and what somewhat distant. Both young men are fully content with the block, but that’s not what I have gotten so far from the young people in this class. They totally disagree with the idea of a filter and it makes me wonder what reasons they have for it. One such young man told that they needed to witness the real world as growing students. But what if there’s no ability to control oneself on the internet? Once in the world, there’s the option. If I’m struggling, cut the cord. That’s what the real world filter is. Here they offer harmless websites: facebook, youtube, the 700 Club fansite… Maybe the last isn’t so popular, but the point is, as young adults, we do need help with our lives. Respect those that need it.
Before the filter was introduced at my school, I never found myself surfing the web, logging into facebook, or especially watching youtube videos just for fun. I have researched on youtube in the past (yes, it’s possible) and don’t have that availability to me anymore. I’m not saying the filter is inappropriate for there could always be situations where there is a total lack of discipline with internet, but there needs to be more student trust in the system.
As of the college classes I attend, I have begun to realize the temptation that I have faced in the past personally dealing with certain internet issues and when a quiz asked a question if the filter should stay on or not, I answered “yes, definitely.” The professor of the class brought up the subject a minute later in class, and there were several people that raised their hands immediately following the question. One of these students said that they wanted to be treated like an adult and can’t do that if there’s a strict filter on the web. Another student mentioned the male (and possibly female) struggle with pornography in teens. The student was a PA in his door and has already had conversations dealing with this topic, and can speak from experience. Both had legitimate points but this is the way I see it:
I have not had a filter on my personal internet since about eighth grade, and have struggled since somewhat with what I should be avoiding as a Christian. Since my acceptance of the faith as a freshman in high school the temptation has wondrously been almost absent from my mind. I am currently typing this blog on a Dell Studio 15 model laptop (there’s my advertisement of the day) which is connected to a wireless internet router which is at a max ten feet from my room. I have constant unfiltered internet access and have the trust of my parents to not go wandering the world wide porn industry. I have appreciated the unfiltered aspect of the unfiltered respect I have earned from my parents based on previous experiences, but I can vouch for the filter that the university has adopted. There is temptation for young men to seek arousal through internet fantasies and such examples of adult humor. (Not being a young female, I can’t really say anything about the subject from their viewpoint…) The iPrism filter has so far helped a couple young men that I know here on campus, one somewhat close and what somewhat distant. Both young men are fully content with the block, but that’s not what I have gotten so far from the young people in this class. They totally disagree with the idea of a filter and it makes me wonder what reasons they have for it. One such young man told that they needed to witness the real world as growing students. But what if there’s no ability to control oneself on the internet? Once in the world, there’s the option. If I’m struggling, cut the cord. That’s what the real world filter is. Here they offer harmless websites: facebook, youtube, the 700 Club fansite… Maybe the last isn’t so popular, but the point is, as young adults, we do need help with our lives. Respect those that need it.
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